Thermal Insulation Investigation
Want to find out which materials are best at keeping your tea hot? This practical shows you how different insulating materials affect heat loss - perfect knowledge for understanding energy efficiency in homes.
Set up a small beaker inside a larger one, then pour 80cm³ of hot water into the small beaker. Use cardboard as a lid with a hole for the thermometer, making sure it sits in the hot water. Record the starting temperature and then take readings every 3 minutes for 15 minutes.
Repeat the experiment, but this time fill the gap between beakers with insulating material like bubble wrap. Try different materials, keeping the mass the same each time. You'll see how much difference good insulation makes to heat retention.
For testing thickness effects, use just one beaker and add layers of the same material rather than changing the type. The thicker the insulation, the slower the cooling - just like wearing multiple jumpers!
Remember: Use the same volume of water each time, or your results won't be comparable.